Control valve



Feb. 25,- 1941. A, E, BMK' 2,232,934

l CONTROL; VALVE v Filed June 18, 1938 Gttorneg Patented Feb. 25,` 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEv v CONTROL VALVE Albert E. Baak, Minneapolis,.Minn., assigner to Minneapolis-'Honeywell Regulator Company,

Minneapolis, Minn.,- a corporation of Delaware Application June 1s, 193s, serial No. 214,485

7 Claims.

trol effect is produced in a new and eiiicient manner. A

The structure of my invention may embody a l pilot valve controlled diaphragm gas valve; the pilot valve or valves being actuated inresponse to a thermostat. I use an electric thermostat or other controller of the double contact type; the advantages of this species of thermostat being l well known in the art and not requiring detailed explanation. With this type of thermostat, an energizing circuit for the device being controlled is completed when lboth thermostatic contacts are made, and completion of the said circuit causes closure of auxiliary holding circuit contacts whereby the device remains energized until both thermostatic contacts are broken. -The primary object of my invention is the provision of a novel and eiiicient constructional and wiring arrangement for producing the holding lcircuit as described.

Another object of my invention is the provision in a pilot valve controlled device of pressure actuated 4contact making means responsive to pressure controlled by the pilot valve or valves. Another object is the provision in a diaphragm type valve of an auxiliary diaphragm for actuating electrical contacts. l. s

A vfurther object is the provision of a diaphragm type valve in combination with a thermostatic control of the type utilizing a holding circuit, the valve having an auxiliary diaphragm responsive to pressures in the diaphragm chamber for actuating the holdingcircuit contacts. o The single figure of the drawing is a cross sectional view of my improved thermostatic valve construction diagrammatically illustrating thev manner of its incorporation in a gas fired heating system. A

s Referring to the drawing, numeral represents the body of my valve and numerals 2 and 3 indicate conduits connected to the inlet and outlet of the valve, respectively. The internal configuration oi. the valve is as shown in the cross secr tional view, forming a seat'at 4. Numeral 5 representsa cap or cover which has a ange 5' secured to the upper surface of the body of the valve by screws 1.- Interposed between the body of the yvalve andthe flange 8 are the periphe-` rlal portions of a diaphragm 8, my valve being (ci. 23e-s4) of the diaphragm type. The diaphragm 8 carries a valve seat disc 9 made of any suitable valve material at the lower side of the central portion, and arranged opposite to the seat disc on the other side of the diaphragm is a disc backing member i0, the discs and diaphragm being secured together by a bolt I3. The vcap or cover 5 houses the pilot valve mech- 1* anism by which my improved valve is controlled.

Located in opposite sidewalls of the cover of the l0 cap member 5 and diametrically opposed to each other areplug members I4 and I5 providing for communication to and from the interior of cap 5, respectively. 'I'he'plugs I4 and I5 have openings I6 and I'I, respectively, the outward tapered ends 15 of which form v alve seats as shown. A port I8 in the plug I4 provides communication vbetween the opening I8 and another vertically tapped opening I9 in the plug. Connecting with the tapped opening I9 in plug I4 is a tube 20 which 20 extends through an opening in the ange 6 and the diaphragm 8 to a channel 2| lformed in the body I of the valve. The channel 2i is curved as shown so as to communicate with the inlet side of the valve. 25 Connnunicating with the outer end of the opening I1 in plug I5 is a port 25 which connects with a screw-threaded tapped hole 28 into which is screwed the end of a bleed pipe 21. r

Mounted within the'interior of the cover 5 is 30 a pair of resilient supports 28 and 29 for a bimetal thermal element 30. The bimetal element 30 comprises two strips of bimetal-soldered orotherwise secured together at' their ends and carryingV a valve member v3|` which extends 35 through the joined portions of the two bimetal strips. The bimetal element 30 is normally held in a bowed position between its supports 28 and 29 and may snap between bowed positions on opposite sides of a dead-center position. The valve member 3| may take the form of a metal rod having its ends machined to a conical form so as to form a valvev at each end ofthe rod, as indicated at 32 and 33. When the bimetal element 30 is flexed or bowed to the left as shown 45 on the drawing, the valve 33 at the left end of valve member 3| is seated on the valve seat in the upper portion of element 39 is an electrical heating resistance 38 which is controlled by a thermostat generally indicated at 39, and which receives its energy from a step-down transformer indicated at 49. 'Ihe heating resistance 38 has insulated electrical connections 36 and 31 extending through adaptor members 41 and 48 in the side wall of cover 5. Upon energization of the heating element 38, the bimetal element 39 warps in a manner as to bow in the opposite direction to that shown in the drawing causing the element to snap past its dead-center position and bow to the right against the force of spring 35, unseating valve 33 and seating the valve 32.

The transformer 49 -may be of conventional type having a primary winding 4| and a secondary winding 42. The thermostat 39 may also be l of a conventional bimetallic element type having two contact members 43 and 44 which make contact with associated xed contact members 45 and- 46 at slightly different temperatures. In' otherv words, the contact member 44 engages the contact 46 one or two degrees before the contact member 43 engages the contact 45. This sequence obtains when the Y temperature is falling, and upon a rise in temperature the sequence of opening of the contacts is the opposite, that is, contacts 43 and 45 break before contacts 44 and 46 break. The electrical wiring in the various circuits which I employ will be fully described in a discussion of the operation of my improved control device which follows.

It will be seen that in the upper horizontal portion of the cover 5 of the valve is a circular opening 50 which is covered and sealed by an auxiliary flexible diaphram 5|. A metal ring 52 engages the peripheral portions of the diaphragm 5| and secures themto the upper surface of the cover 5 by means of screws 53. Secured also to the upper surface of the cover 5 by means of screws 54 is a housing 55. Within the housing 55 is a pair of electrical terminals 56 and 51, the terminal 56 supporting a flexible metal blade 58 which may be secured thereto by riveting or any suitable means. The opposite end of the blade 58 carries a contact member 59 which may engage a fixed contact 69 which is connected to and forms part of the electrical terminal 51. The central portion of the blade 59 is pivotedlas seen at 6| to an operating stem 62 which is secured to the central portion of the diaphragm 5|. Whenever there is pressure within the cover 5, the diaphragm. 5| is flexed upwardly as shown in the drawing and the contacts 59 and 69i are separated. Whenever the pressure is released vfrom within cover 5, the diaphragm 5| exes downwardly carrying the resilient blade 59 therewith causing the contacts 59 and-69 to engage with each other.

As previously pointed out, my ,improved thermostatic `control device may be advantageously employed in a gas red heating system, the thermostat 39 being located in'spaces being heated. I` have shown my invention as applied to such a system in diagrammatic form. Re-

ferring to the drawing, numeral 19 indicates apilot burner 14 as ordinarily used in connection with gas burners. A similar conduit 15 may connect with the outlet 21 leading from plug I5 for conveying gas released through valve 33 to an auxiliary pilot burner indicated at 16.

From the foregoing, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the valves 32 and 33 form pilot valves for admitting pressure to and releasing pressure from within the cover 5, respectively. I will now describe the -complete operation of my improved thermostatic control arrangement. With the parts in the position shown in the drawing, the thermostat is satisfied and the heating element 38 being deenergized the valve 33 is seated. Valve 32 being unseated, gas pressure from the inlet side of the main valve is supplied therethrouglrto the interior of the lcover 5. By reason of the pressure within the cover 5, the diaphragm 8 is held downwardly and the diaphragm valve is seated due to this pressure as well as its own weight. The pressure within cover 5 is at this time holding the diaphragm 5| in an upwardly flexed position. Should now the temperature to which the thermostat 39 is responsive begin to fall, at a predetermined value thereof, the contacts 44 and 46 will be made, and at a slightly lower predetermined temperature the contacts 43 and 45 will be made. As soon as this occurs, the heating element 38 will be energized through an electrical circuit which is as follows: from the secondary 42 of the transformer 49 through a wire 80 to the heating element 38, and from the heating element 38 through a wire 8| and a wire 82 to the contact 45, through the thermostat and contact 46 and wire 83, back to the secondary 42. Upon energzation of the heater 38, the bimetal element 39 will ex to the right snapping past its dead-center position thereby unseating the valve 33 and seating the valve 32. This will release the gas from within the cover 5 to the burner 16 and will cut off the supply of gas from the inlet side of the valve to the tube 29. Upon release of pressure from within cover 5, the pressure on the inlet side of the valve acting on the valve disc 9 will break the seal between the valve disc and the seat 4 permitting pressure to act on the lower side of the outer portions ofv diaphragm 8. As soon as this occurs, the additional lifting force occasioned by the gas acting also on the outer portions of diaphragm 8 will cause it to snap upfrom within cover 5, the auxiliary diaphragm 5| will flex downwardly causing the contacts 58- and 69 to be made. Closure of contacts 59 and 69 completes an additional energizing circuit for the heater 38 which is as follows: from the secondary 42 of the transformer through wire 89, the heater 38, wire 8|, a wire 85, the contacts 59 and 69, blade 58, a wire 86, through the thermostat, the xed contact 46, and wire 83 back to the secondary of the transformer. It will now be seen that by reason of this last described circuit, heater 38 will remain energized as long as contacts 44 and 46 are in a closed position. Thus as the temperature rises in the spaces being heated, the contacts 43 and 45 will become broken but the diaphragm valve will remain in open position until the contacts 44 and 46 are broken at a slightly higher temperature. It will thus be seen that by re'ason of the auxiliary diaphragm actuated contacts 59 and 60, the thermostat has a positive operating differential which, as is Well known, is desirable as it avoids the fluttering and uncertain characteristic of single Contact thermost-at.

When the temperature rises to a predetermined value :at which contacts 44 and 46 break, the

heater 38 will become deenergized and bimetal .is reduced causing the pressure above the diaphragm to seat the valv'e with a snap movement.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have provided an extremely simple and inexpensive arrangement of parts for controlling a valve and have afforded unusually advantageous means Kfor establishing a holding circuit through the thermostatic control device. My device employs the pressure of the gas itself lfor operating the auxiliary contacts in the holding circuit and therefore eliminates the necessity of providing an additional apparatus for producing this function. The gas pressure which is utilized for operating the auxiliary contacts is already available in the cover 5 for actuating the diaphragm valve, and by reason of my improved arrangement only the small auxiliary diaphragm and contacts operated thereby, which may be of very inexpensive nature, are necessary for purposes of establishing the holding circuit. My improved combination and arrangement enable those practicing myinvention to gain the improved operating results characteristic of double contact thermostats of the type shown, in the control of gas valves in a very eflcient and satisfactory manner.

While only one embodiment of my invention has been disclosed, there are many forms and modifications which it may take and there are many changes in the structure thereof which will oc'cur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore `expressly understood that the disclosed embodi- I ment is to be interpreted as illustrative only, the invention to be limited only as determined by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:` i

1. In a control valve assembly, in combination, a diaphragm valve having a pressure chamber, pilot valve mechanism for regulating the pressure in said chamber whereby said valve is controlled, electrical means comprising a thermostat having two contact members for controlling said electrical means, an electrical circuit for energizing said electrical means through both said contact members, and contact means controlled by pressure in said .pressure chamber in an electrical circuit for energizing said electrical means through only one contact member of said thermostat.

2. In apparatus of the character described, in combination', .a diaphragm valve having a pressure-chamber, meansfor controlling the pressure in said chamber comprising an electric thermostat of the type having a plurality of pairs of contacts which operate sequentially upon a change intemperature, electrical connections for energizing said means when two pairs of said contacts are closed, and means responsive to pressure in said chamber for closing electrical contacts in a circuit energizing said first means, said circuit including only one of said pairs of contacts.

3. In apparatusl of the character described; in.

combination, a valve having a pressure chamber, means for regulating the pressure in said chamber whereby the valve is controlled, said means comprising pilot valve mechanism and electrically energizable actuating means therefor, an electric thermostat having at least two contactblades, a'

fixed contact associated with each contact blade, said contact blades engaging their respective associated fixed contacts sequentially upon a fall in temperature and disengaging from them sequentially in reverse order upon a rise in temperature, an electrical circuit for energizing said actuating means through two of said contact blades, and a`n electrical circuit' for energizing said actuating means through one of said two contact blades including electrical contacting means responsive to pressure in said chamber tioned actuating means.

4. In apparatus of the character described, in-

combinati'on, a diaphragm valve having a pressure chamber, electrically operated means for controlling the pressure in said chamber comprising a condition responsive switch having two pairs of sequentially engaging contacts, a maintaining switch positioned responsive to the pressure in said chamber, electrical connections independent of said maintaining switch for energizing said means when the last to be engaged of Vsaid pairs of contacts is closed, and further electrical connections including said maintaining switch for energizing said means independently of the last to be engaged of said contacts.

5. In a diaphragm gas valve, a valve, a diaphragm connected to said valve, a housing associated with said diaphragm and forming a control chamber therewith, means for admitting gas to said'chamber, pilot valve mechanism within said chamber for controlling the gas pressure `within said chamber, a slow acting electrically operated motor within said chamber for positioning said pilot valve mechanism, a second dia- V phragm forming a portion of said housing and positioned in accordance with the gas pressure within said chamber, a maintaining switch exterior to said chamber and positioned by said second diaphragm, a condition responsive switch having two pairs of sequentially engaging contacts, circuit connections for energizing said mo.-

tor independently of said maintaining switch when both pairs of contacts are closed, and further circuit connections including said maintain.

ing switch for energizing said motor independently of the last to be engaged of said two pairs of contacts.

6. In a diaphragm gas valve, a valve, a diaphragm connected to said valve, a housing associated with said diaphragm and forming a control chamber therewith, means for admitting gasV sequentially engaging contacts, circuit.connec tions for energizing said electrothermal motor independently of said maintaining switch when both pairs of contacts are closed, and further circuit connections including said maintaining switch for energizing said motor independently of the last to be engaged of said two pairs of contacts.-

7. In apparatus of the character described,

10 in combination, a valve having a pressure chamber, means for regulating the pressure in said chamber whereby the valve is controlled, said means comprising electrically energizable pilot valve mechanism, an electric thermostat having through another of said blades including electri- 10 cal contacting means responsive to pressure in 1 said chamber actuated upon energization of said mechanism.

ALBERT E. BAAK. 

